The Detroit native had been considered the top candidate for several weeks.

Craig has indicated after he was initially contacted by Detroit that he would consider the job because he began his career there as a police officer in 1977, and both of his aging parents still live there.

"If you could go home, would you?" Craig said last week.

Craig said that leaving Cincinnati after only 22 months on the job would be harder for him than leaving Los Angeles after 28 years was to take the Cincinnati post.

Monday night, Craig was taking part in a “Pitching for Peace” softball game in Avondale. He wore a Detroit Tigers baseball hat as he took questions from reporters.

“An announcement is imminent and so I’ll just wait for Detroit to officially contact me,” Craig said.

Cincinnati FOP President Kathy Harrell said, “We hate to see him leave. Morale has increased and we've enjoyed his time here.”

A political activist told WDIV that he feels the hiring is a violation of state law.

"If I were the individual coming from Cincinnati I would not resign from my job just yet because certainly there are some key legal questions that may block his appointment here in the city of Detroit," Robert Davis told the station.

Craig received wide praise in Cincinnati for his performance and complimented his officers.

“The work needs to continue and I think it will continue. If I’m the one selected and I leave, we have a very capable police department, a model police agency,” Craig said.

Craig said that he wasn't considering the move for money reasons, and he said a pay raise would not keep him in Cincinnati.

Copyright 2013 byWLWT.comAll rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.